I focus on law, public policy, security & crime.
A Pakistani man, one of approximately 10,000 people participating in an anti-American rally has died. The cause of death? Complications from inhaling smoke after burning an American flag. The Express Tribune, a Pakistani newspaper affiliated with The International Herald Tribune (“The Global Edition of The New York Times”) reported:
One of the participants of the rally, Abdullah Ismail, passed away after he was taken to Mayo Hospital. Witnesses said he had complained of feeling unwell from the smoke from US flags burnt at the rally.
The rally is part of protests, organized by Jamaat-Ud-Dawa, the political arm of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Protesters are allegedly insulted by America’s unwillingness to punish the makers of the film “Innocence of Muslims.” The protesters, demanding respect for and tolerance of Islam, threatened to destroy the U.S. consulate in Pakistan if the United States does not publicly hang the movie’s producer, director, and “all those involved in the production and release of the movie” (which would presumably include Google and YouTube employees). The protesters also will not be satisfied until the United States makes a “law against blasphemy.”
Jamaat-Ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, also directed his attention at Muslim leaders. At the rally he announced that the protesters would not be satisfied by a mere parliamentary resolution condemning the movie. Rather, they believe that “President Asif Ali Zardari must announce jihad against countries like the U.S. that supported attacks on Islam.” Moreover, the OICC should announce a boycott of U.S. goods.
Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), addresses a rally against India and the US in Lahore on May 8, 2012. The United States last month offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the conviction of Hafiz Saeed, who lives openly in Pakistan and is considered a mastermind of the assault in India that killed 166 people. (Image credit: AFP/Getty Images via @daylife)
No word yet on the prospects for the blasphemy ban, public hangings, boycott of goods, or the announcement of jihad against countries like the U.S. But, protesters are now on notice that if they burn an American flag, they just might die.
Gregory S. McNeal is a professor specializing in law, public policy and international affairs. You can follow him onTwitter @GregoryMcNeal.
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